Play-off scenarios

The IPL is reaching the closing stages. With 67 matches played, the race for the play-offs has intensified. The Delhi Daredevils and the Kolkata Knight Riders have already secured qualification for the play-offs. The battle is on for the remaining two spots with five teams vying for the a spot in the final four. Defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals are the teams hoping to secure the final two positions in the play-offs.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai stand the best chance of qualifying for the play-offs. In 15 matches that they have played, they have a total of 18 points with nine wins. Their last league game is against the Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur on the 20th, the final day of the league matches.

- For Mumbai to ensure that their final game against Rajasthan is inconsequential, Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals should lose their remaining matches.

- If either RCB or KXIP win their last match and Rajasthan win against Deccan, Mumbai's final match to be a virtual knock-out.

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings' defeat against the Kings XI Punjab has put them in a precarious position. They have finished all their league games and are on 17 points with eight wins. The problem for CSK is that all the other teams in contention for the play-offs have a game to go. For CSK to qualify, the following scenarios are necessary:

- Kings XI Punjab have to lose their last game against Delhi Daredevils at Dharamsala. This will mean that KXIP have played all their league games and are stuck on 16 points.

- Deccan Chargers will have to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore in their last league game at Uppal. This will keep Bangalore on 17 points and Chennai will then go through by virtue of a better net run-rate.

- Rajasthan are currently on 14 points with two games to go. Chennai will be hoping that Rajasthan lose one of their two remaining games.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore managed a crucial win against Delhi at the Kotla. Despite winning the match by 21 runs, they are stuck on 17 points, the same as Chennai but are in the fifth position due to a poor net run-rate. CSK's net run-rate is 0.10 while RCB's net run-rate is 0.01. Bangalore's last match is against Deccan at Uppal. A win for them will take them to 19 points and ensure their qualification to the knockout stages while a loss will see them return home early.

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan have two matches remaining in the league stages. Their first game is against Deccan and their last game is against Mumbai Indians on the 20th at Jaipur. A win for Rajasthan in both the games will take them to 18 points, level on points with Mumbai. Since they have the best net run-rate among the teams in reckoning for the play-offs, this will ensure their qualification.

Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab's victory against Chennai has put them on track for a place in the play-offs. However, to secure qualification in the final four, these are the scenarios that they have to contend with.

-KXIP have to win their last game against Delhi at Dharamsala. A loss for them and they are out of contention. A victory for them against Delhi will boost them to 18 points, level with Mumbai.

- They will have to depend upon Bangalore suffering a loss against Deccan which will brighten their chances to qualify.

- They will be hoping that Rajasthan lose their match against Deccan and win against Mumbai, as that increases the chance for KXIP to qualify.

- If KXIP's last match against Delhi is a no-result, then it knocks them out of the competition.

Here is an easy way to find out where a team will be placed depending on the result of a game: Points Table Prediction

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